I hope to get a post up tomorrow! Things have been going very well, I've been keeping up with work for a while, and I'm slowly starting to steal time for my hobbies again.
Sorry, I have my fingers in way too many pies at the moment and it's getting away from me. I forgot I had to do dinner today on top of working late. Tomorrow is a maybe, Friday is a stronger maybe, and Saturday is the most likely. It's just very hard to get things moving again, especially when this sort of thing keeps happening. Resuming is always the hardest part.
Ugh, I am so sorry. My ex pulled something really gross and awful this morning and it's put me out of commission today.
I'm gonna be pretty inactive over the next week, probably--going on a trip to meet someone--but I'll do my best. It shouldn't be hard. I honestly think the delay in posting was pure "the post is late, why bother posting at all" anxiety, because this really isn't a hard scene to write.
By the way, I forgot to actually say it explicitly, which probably led to some confusion--the song the elemental was singing is basically a mistranslation/modification of the song "O Willow Waly".
Alright, setting out for Ohio tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!
Good luck with the travels!
And be safe!
Oooh, "Willow Waly!" Been a while since I've thought of that. :)
I hope everything is going well on your journey, DM! ... I feel like I *should* know where Ohio is, but there are too many states. ;)
*Checks.* OK, this is even more embarrassing - just across the lake from where I'm at, at the moment. Home is a few hours further NE for me, and most of my family is on the west coast, so my sense of the States is basically a bit of New England, and Washington.
I am now home! I'll get an update up tomorrow.
Hope you had a good trip.
It was alright! It was very intense at points. Sometimes I forget how much dealing with new people and new areas drains me.
Sorry, I've honestly just had a couple of weird days lately. It's been hard to get back to a routine with everything going on. I'm hoping to do some scheduling tonight and be back with a cleaner structure to things starting tomorrow!
Post tomorrow! Things are settling. The routine is re-assembling. I sort of accidentally got a second job at the start of April and I've been bouncing back from that change to my workflow ever since, but it's getting better. Part of me is just dreading having to start another high-level Pathfinder encounter.
I'd make a post tonight, but I'm six minutes from the bedtime I'm trying very hard to follow.
Got a bit of cold (darn contagious kids!). Hope to get caught up on things this weekend.
Sorry, I'll update the map and room description tomorrow!
My BFF and I are hitting the road to celebrate the latest of many anniversaries. If you feel it necessary to bot Edrukk, please do so.
Executive dysfunction hit me really badly the last month, but I didn't actually realize until just now how long it's been since I've updated. A month is a long time. In the past, I was reluctant to add "update PbPs" to my morning routine because I didn't want to disrupt workflow, but my workflow is a lot more reliable nowadays. I'm going to give it a try. I love this game, and I really love these PCs, and I'm determined to do my best to get things moving again for good.
Can we do a quick roll call? I just want to make sure we still have everyone. :)
I'm still here! My sympathies on getting back into a routine that works for you - it's something that I've been grappling with myself for the past few days after just coming through two conferences back-to-back. They were good, but it was a lot more trying to approximate a mostly sane person than I'm wired for.
I’m still here! Briar has been waiting to hear back from the advance team so not much to post on my end
*Blub blub blub* ”’ere!”
Still here as well!
Oh, I should give you all xp for handling both elemental encounters without having to kill anyone. I'll award full xp as if they were defeated, because you all went to a lot of trouble for it--100 for each elemental, which brings you up to 1900/2000. This next encounter will level you all up!
Oh, right, Seeker's hanging out with Alais and Briar, just by the way.
I went back to refresh my memory - Edrukk is rocking a dagger for stabby purposes underwater.
Sorry, post tomorrow. Had a rough one, but I did manage to outline the post this morning.
Having some computer issues hope to have them resolved today.
No worries! Sorry I had to NPC you, I just didn't want to slip into procrastinating. :)
Not a problem at all! I appreciate your botting Kata!
My cat passed away this morning, and it was already not being the kindest week to me, so I've been a little buried in books and not-so-online lately. I'll be back to posting soon.
I'm sorry for your loss, DM.
I'm sorry to hear that, DM. I hope your cat had a peaceful passing, at least. Take care of yourself.
My condolences, DM.
Very sorry to hear about your loss. Another game I was in took a moment to allow a player to talk about their lost feline friend. I suspect no one would fault you if you wanted to do so here.
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She was a wonderfully silly cat. Here's my favorite picture of her. She was always a great fit for me--I like cuddles, but I also like my space, and she was the same way. She'd insist on lying on me at night for scritches and pets, but when she was done she'd just go next to my pillow and fall asleep. She purred really loudly, and loved lounging on top of the shed and watching our house from up the hill. I remember watching her bounding down the hill when I called, just this bouncing ball of fluff. (Her being outside was something I came to oppose later, but by then I'd moved out and couldn't house her.)
I'll look to resume things on Monday. This week ended up sort of being a break from everything normal in my life--especially when the new roommate came in and promptly tested positive for COVID--and it turns out that can cause some dissociation if you're not careful. I'm looking forward to getting back in the swing of things.
Oh, that is a lovely picture. What a beautiful kitty, DM.
Actually, the post won't be up til tomorrow. Today's ended up being kind of chaotic. The good news is, it doesn't seem like any of the rest of us caught COVID.
WOW! Go Kata!
Thanks! Action points are glorious. Kata's punching above her weight so far with her spear-play; I'm sure she's going to come back to earth some day soon :)
Level up conversation time:
We have two bards/skalds and three spellcasters, so I thought maybe we should chat about what spells we plan on taking? Kata is generally intended to grow into a spellcaster, though this is of course suboptimal at 1st level and in general with bards :) So, I'm intending to select some offensive spells, and with her able to effect undead with enchantments, hopefully she'll be somewhat effective with it.
Thematically, spells that are appropriate for fate, charisma, voice/performance, and care are what I'm aiming to select. I also don't want to double up on anything that Alaïs or Briar are taking, unless it is the type of spell you can't ever have enough of.
So with that in mind, Alaïs and Briar, what spells are you planning on learning this level up?
I have two 1st level spells to select. One bard, one necromancy. The necromancy spell is going to be tough. Can't be anything too evil-y, but I'd also like it to be useful.
Dungeon Madam, dirge bard gives half-level to ID undead with Know (Religion). I assume I should apply that bonus to Lore (Undead)?
Also, what happens to action points on level up?
Yup, absolutely apply the bonus.
Also, thanks for reminding me to check! Everyone gains an extra Action Point (it's 5 + 1/2 current character level), and your APs are refreshed.
Updates:
+1 Action Point, Action Points re-set to max.
+11 total hp (6 class, 4 Con, 1 Preferred Class)
+1 BAB
+1 Ref
+1 Fort
+1 to each skill
Power Attack feat
Brawler's Flurry class ability.
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Thank you, DM!
All, as a reminder, here's our skill lists as it stands at first level. We've got some knowledge gaps, lacking sleight of hand, heal, fly as well.
Acrobatics 2 Briar
Appraise 2 Briar
Artistry (?)
Bluff 10 Briar
Climb 7 Rosella
Craft (Armor) 0 Edrukk
Craft (Alchemy) 7 Alais
Craft (Weapons) 8 Edrukk
Craft (Arrows) 4 Rosella
Diplomacy 10 Briar
Disable Device 7 Kata
Disguise 8 Briar
Escape Artist 2 Briar
Fly
Handle Animal 4 Rosella
Heal
Intimidate 8 Kata
Knowledge (arcana) 8 Alais
Knowledge (dungeoneering) 4 Broccan
Knowledge (engineering)
Knowledge (geography)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (local) 7 Kata
Knowledge (nature) 8 Alais
Knowledge (nobility)
Knowledge (planes)
Knowledge (religion) 10 Kata
Linguistics 6 Kata
Lore (Age of Worms) 8 Edrukk
Lore (Undead) 7 Kata
Lore (Old Faith) 4 Rosella
Perception 6 Edrukk/Kata
Perform (dance) 10 Briar
Perform (percussion) 10 Kata
Perform (oratory) 8 Kata
Perform (sing) 8 Kata
Perform (string) 7 Alais
Profession (courtesan) 4 Briar
Ride 8 Rosella
Sense Motive 6 Edrukk
Sleight of Hand
Spellcraft 7 Alais
Stealth 6 Briar
Survival 6 Rosella
Swim 7 Rosella
Use Magic Device 8 Kata
Level 2 is a sucky one for Briar as far as magic goes cause she only gets another cantrip—which is gonna be detect magic so she can spellcraft things—and her mystery spell, which is the mediocre-at-best blurred movement.
Her main focus on spells is going to be illusions, particularly shadow spells, with some supplemental utility things. Between her human favored class bonus and the Dark Secrets revelation she will be taking, she will have a *lot* of spells known, and the latter lets her get some off the sorc/wiz spell list.
I actually have notes on planned spells known up through level 5 if you are interested.
3rd
1-Cure light wounds, murderous command, shadow trap, blurred movement, bless, shadowfade
4th (6/3+4/1+3)
0-Guidance, Create Water, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Read Magic, Detect Magic
1-Cure light wounds, murderous command, shadow trap, blurred movement, bless, shadowfade, shield of faith
2-Cure moderate wounds, invisibility, lesser restoration, umbral weapon
5th (6/4+5/2+3)
1-Cure light wounds, murderous command, shadow trap, blurred movement, bless, shadowfade, shield of faith, remove sickness, liberating command
2-Cure moderate wounds, invisibility, lesser restoration, umbral weapon, oracle’s burden
And here is Briar’s level up!
Action points reset and +1
HP +9
Will +1
BAB +1
1st level spell per day +1
New Spells Known
0-Detect Magic
1-Blurred Movement
Background Skill Points
+1 linguistics (total +3 bonus), learned Aquan
+1 Craft (alchemy)
Adventurer Skill Points
+1 Bluff
+1 Diplomacy
+1 Knowledge (history) (total +6 bonus, first point)
+1 Knowledge (planes) (total +6 bonus, first point)
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Spellcraft (total +6 bonus, first point)
Right on, thanks, Briar - that is very helpful. If you're taking history, I may put a rank in geography. Or stealth. A bit of a toss up. Since Kata is a trapfinder stealth may be useful.
It looks like the only overlap we may have spellwise is with cure spells and detect magic, which isn't a bad thing IMO.
EDIT: Level up, except spells which are coming soon
Action points: 6 in total
BAB +1
Ref +1
Will +1
HP: +6
Skills: Diplomacy, Disable Device, Intimidate, Local, Religion, Lore [Undead], Perception, Perform [Percussion], Perform [Sing], Spellcraft (1st point), UMD, and either geography or stealth (1st point in either)
SQ: Secrets of the grave, haunted eyes, both from dirge bard archtype
Spells per day: +1 1st
Spells known:
0th: 1 TBD
1st: 1 TBD, 1 arcane necromancy spell TBD
First roughest of rough drafts:
Edrukk will gain
+8 hp (+5 class, +3 CON)
+4 skill points +1 favored class
+1 BAB
+1 Fort
+1 Will
Fervor class ability (4 uses/day, 1d6 healing)
+1 Orison per day
+1 1st level spell/day
+1 use of blessings/day
+1 AP and the total resets to max
It looks like we lady spellcasters have similar ideas about magic, which I’m choosing to think of as synergy rather than toe-stepping.
My idea with Alaïs was to go all in with spell kenning, and other shenanigans to boost her spells known. That probably means some shadow spells as some point, but as a skald, she’ll be lagging far behind Briar, who’s a primary caster, and I rather like the idea of how that works with the by-play of ageless dilettante and streetwise kid working together. (Alaïs will be quietly jealous of Briar’s drive, and wonder what she’s been doing with her own past several decades.)
Long-term, I’m thinking mainly support magic (it plays nicely with my archetypes, esp. for Cha casters), but I’ve never played into the higher levels to have many particular ideas yet. Offensively, can one have too much sonic damage? It’s still early days to turn ourselves into Smolarion’s greatest rock band too, whatever else we become as we venture forth.
Thematically, I am thinking of mucking about with bard masterpieces quite a bit, and as much fruity/planty stuff as I can get from the skald list. I can’t see Alaïs really all that interested in fate – charisma, sure, but I imagine that might look quite different for her and Kata, unless Kata’s way more into hippie fey rave stuff than I thought.
Anyway, this level, Alaïs is taking message and share language. (Scrivener’s chant will probably round out her cantrips next level, and she’ll eventually swap out share language for comprehend languages in a bit.)
OK, thank you, Alaïs! Spell Kenning is very cool and is totally an ability worth building around. You have a good point about sonic spells; ear-piercing scream is one I'm strongly considering for this level.
unless Kata’s way more into hippie fey rave stuff than I thought.
I don't think Kata's ever been exposed to hippie rave stuff, let alone fey. But I think she would find it fascinating!
I believe Edrukk is up-to-date.
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OK chose the following spells and that should bring Kata fully to 2nd level:
0 - lullaby
1 - ear piercing scream, ray of enfeeblement (I'm going to refluff this as having to do with old age/aging to be more Pharasmic/Jadisian)
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Work was indeed tough these last few days, and now I'm leaving town for my spouse's birthday. We're going down to TJ for the tacos and beer, and will be back on Monday. Please bot as needed, and sorry things are so hectic at the moment.